Children's Home run by Shropshire Council in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2558682 1 Registered provider: Shropshire Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this children’s home. The home provides care and support for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties and who may also have had adverse experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022 and is suitably qualified and experienced. However, since the last full inspection, the registered manager has been absent from the home. An interim manager had been overseeing the day-to-day running of the home, but they left on 30 September 2024, meaning there is currently no manager overseeing the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

A restriction notice was issued on 28 June 2024 following the last full inspection. The restriction notice was reviewed at the monitoring visit on 19 September 2024 and reissued until 18 December 2024 as there were no management arrangements in place to oversee the running of the home following the departure of the interim manager. Inspection report for children’s home: 2558682 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2024 Full Inadequate 26/04/2023 Full Good 03/05/2022 Full Good 27/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2558682 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, an interim management team was put in place to oversee the day-to-day running of the home. During this time, significant improvements have been made to ensure the child living in the home had a more positive experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there were no children living in the home. One child has recently moved on, in line with their wishes. The interim management team ensured a thorough moving-on plan was put in place which was led by the child. This approach helped to reduce any anxieties and made sure they had a positive end to their time in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of individualised care provided to the child has improved since the last inspection. This is because the interim management team has ensured that staff have been provided with the skills to better understand the child’s needs. This has helped to improve the quality of the relationships between staff and the child, which has positively affected their experience of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff made sure the child’s physical health needs were met. The child was registered with local health services and attended appointments when required. Additionally, staff carried out targeted work to support more specific health needs. They also secured the support of external professionals to provide further education and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was encouraged to see people who are important to them. The manager and staff understand the importance of the child having positive time with their loved ones and advocated for them to have increased time with their sibling. This helped the child to maintain a sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s education attendance improved significantly. This is because staff provided a consistent and stable environment where the child felt more certain about their daily routines. Furthermore, staff advocated for the child where necessary, which helped them to feel more valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encouraged the child to take part in activities they enjoy. For example, they had a summer pass for the skate park and started kung fu classes. Additionally, staff advocated for the child to return to their local youth club after a period away and took them on a summer holiday.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Since the last inspection, there was a reduction in safeguarding concerns for the child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There was clear improvement to the child’s risk assessments. Risks were clearly identified based on present and historic information. Control measures were clear and Inspection report for children’s home: 2558682 4 provided guidance for staff. The child was involved in the plan to keep them safe. Any changes were clearly recorded and shared with staff.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The interim management team worked hard to implement routines, boundaries and clear expectations with the child. This contributed towards the child feeling increasingly safe and secure. The certainty provided has also helped staff to develop more confidence in managing situations and behaviours that challenge. Effective guidance and role modelling from leaders and managers has contributed to a reduction in violent and aggressive behaviours.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Incidents of restraint have been well managed and are proportionate. Staff and children are now consistently spoken to after incidents and are given the opportunity to reflect and learn. Additionally, leaders and managers have made improvements to the quality of incident recording.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The child had not gone missing from home since the last inspection. Staff understand the protocols for the child and have received training to ensure they knew how to respond. Additionally, safety plans created with the child included strategies to further reduce any risk of the child going missing from home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There has been one disclosure made by the child since the last inspection. Staff ensured appropriate action was taken, sharing information with safeguarding agencies and putting strategies in place to ensure the safety and well-being of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is currently no manager overseeing the home since the interim manager left and the management arrangements for the immediate future are unclear. This means that the characteristics of good management are not currently in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Not all staff have been safely vetted prior to working in the home. The manager failed to verify the reasons a staff member had left previous employment involving work with children. This means that the child has been cared for by a staff member who has not had the required checks to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

In contrast to the above, there was positive progress made by the interim management team. Its members clearly understood the ethos of the home and took a therapeutic approach to the child’s care. They worked to embed this into staff practice. The interim manager had high expectations for the child and staff and ensured high standards of individualised care. Additionally, they maintained a child-centred approach and advocated on the child’s behalf.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have undertaken training to develop their skills and knowledge around delivering the preferred model of therapeutic care. Additionally, staff received child-specific training to help them better understand the child and meet their needs. Improvement in staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2558682 5 knowledge has been tracked and recorded in the form of a report and indicates positive results in relation to their learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff say they feel supported and enjoy working in the home. They feel that the approach of the interim management team has had a positive impact on their practice and the progress of the child living in the home. Staff say they developed a better understanding of the child, and that the interim manager provided them with clear expectations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular and detailed supervision. Supervision sessions are reflective, assess performance and focus on the needs of the child. Clear goals are provided to ensure staff continue to develop. Staff are encouraged to learn and progress in their roles. This was supported by focused development workshops and a development week.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The interim management team has introduced new monitoring systems to ensure effective oversight of the care provided to children. Analysis reviews have taken place to inform learning and targeted work has been carried out to ensure effective progress. Tracking tools have been introduced to ensure the child’s progress was monitored effectively and patterns and trends were identified. Care planning meetings were increased to ensure information was shared effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Relationships with partner agencies have been improved and this contributed to the child’s needs being met more effectively. Feedback from professionals is positive about the care which was provided to the child during the time the interim management arrangements were in place. Professionals say the child was safe and that staff advocated on their behalf to ensure their voice is heard. Inspection report for children’s home: 2558682 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the reason for staff leaving any previous roles working with children or vulnerable adults is suitably verified prior to commencing employment in the home. 29 November 2024

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2558682 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 6ND

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Inspector

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2558682 8 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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